Comparison of the retinal and choroidal structures in 3 refractive groups

Objectives: This study investigated the retinal layer thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters in 3 refractive groups. Methods: A total of 201 eyes of 201 subjects were enrolled in this prospective and comparative study. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to refractive status: Group 1 consisted of 60 eyes of myopic subjects, Group 2 comprised 72 eyes of emmetropic subjects, and 69 eyes of hyperopic subjects were categorized as Group 3. The retinal layer thickness, CT, and RNFL parameters were measured using optical coherence tomography and compared between groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 22.33±10.11 years in Group 1, 21.55±8.3 years in Group 2, and 23.73±11.08 years in Group 3 (p=0.741). Group 1 consisted of 34 women and 26 men, Group 2 contained 44 women and 28 men, and Group 3 was made up of 45 women and 24 men (p=0.124). The mean spherical equivalent value was −6.16±2.01 D in Group 1, 0.13±0.5 D in Group 2, and 5.48±1.32 D in Group 3 (p<0.001). The RNFL and macular thickness values were lower in the myopic patients compared with those of the other groups (p<0.05). The CT measurement was lower in the myopic patients and higher in the hyperopic patients compared with the emmetropic patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: The myopic patients had a lower CT and RNFL thickness measurement than the emmetropic and hyperopic patients, whereas the hyperopic patients had a higher CT than the other patient types

Evaluation of choroidal perfusion changes in obese patients: ocular effects of insulin resistance

ABSTRACT Purpose: We aimed to evaluate choroidal perfusion changes in obese patients using optical coherence tomography and dynamic contour tonometry, to determine whether these changes are associated with body mass index, and to assess the ocular effects of insulin resistance. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 32 obese patients with body mass index >30 kg/m2 and 45 healthy control individuals. Intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude values of the patients were measured using dynamic contour tonometry, and the mean choroidal thickness was measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index. Results: The mean choroidal thickness (294.30 ± 60.87 μm) and ocular pulse amplitude (2.10 ± 0.74) were lower, whereas the mean intraocular pressure (16.61 ± 2.35 mmHg) was higher in obese patients than in controls. There was a significant negative correlation between body mass index and ocular pulse amplitude (r=-0.274; p=0.029) and an insignificant negative correlation between mean choroidal thickness, intraocular pressure, and body mass index. There was an insignificant negative correlation between homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index, mean choroidal thickness, and intraocular pressure and significant negative correlation between homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index and ocular pulse amplitude (r=-0.317; p=0.022). Conclusion: We found reduced mean choroidal thickness and ocular pulse amplitude and increased mean intraocular pressure in obese patients. These changes indicated a decrease in choroidal perfusion and ocular blood flow. It may be possible to detect ocular blood flow changes in obese patients through noninvasive assessment using the choroid. The negative correlation between insulin resistance and ocular pulse amplitude may be associated with intracellular fat accumulation in obese patients

Keratokonus hastalarında UVA-Riboflavin korneal kollajen çapraz bağlama tedavisinin sonuçları

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to show changes of central corneal thickness and effects of treatment on visual acuity after corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus patients. Materials and Methods: 26 eyes of 51 patients with keratoconus who undergone corneal collagen cross-linking were included in to the study. Central corneal thickness measurements and best corrected visual acuity were recorded before and after 1st and 6th month of corneal collagen cross-linking operation. Results: Mean central corneal thickness measurements were recorded as; 435,43±44,35 ?m, 376,68±66,55 ?m and 392,62±64,21 ?m before and after 1st and 6th month of corneal collagen cross-linking, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between pre-op and postop 1st month, pre-op and postop 6th month and post-op 1st month and post-op 6th month central corneal thickness measurements. Also, there was a statistically significant increase in best corrected visual acuity after the operation. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference between pre-op, post-op 1st month and postop 6th month central corneal thickness and best corrected visual acuity measurements.Amaç: Bu çalışmada, keratokonus hastalarında korneal kollajen çapraz bağlama tedavisinin görme keskinliği ve merkezi kornea kalınlığına etkilerinin gösterilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Korneal kollajen çapraz bağlama işlemi uygulanan 26 hastanın 51 gözü çalışmaya dahil edildi. Merkezi kornea kalınlık ölçümleri ve en iyi düzeltilmiş görme keskinlikleri işlemden önce ve sonrasındaki 1. ay ve 6. ayda kayıt altına alındı. Bulgular: Ortalama merkezi kornea kalınlık ölçümleri işlem öncesi, işlem sonrası 1. ay ve işlem sonrası 6.ay olmak üzere sırasıyla 435,43±44,35?m, 376,68±66,55?m ve 392,62±64,21 ?m olarak kaydedildi. İşlem öncesi ve işlem sonrası 1. ay, işlem öncesi ve işlem sonrası 6.ay ve işlem sonrası 1. ay ve işlem sonrası 6.ay merkezi kornea kalınlığı ölçümleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu. Aynı zamanda, işlem sonrası görme keskinliği artışı istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu. Sonuç: İşlem öncesi, işlem sonrası 1.ay ve işlem sonrası 6. ay merkezi kornea kalınlık ölçümleri ve en iyi düzeltilmiş görme keskinliği ölçümlerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değişiklikler bulundu

Retinal nerve fiber layer decrease and choroidal layer increase after four weeks of buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance treatment in opioid use disorder

Background and Objectives: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in substance use disorders have been investigated in recent years. In this study, we compared the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and the choroid thickness (CT) of OUD and control groups before and after buprenorphine/ naloxone maintenance treatment (BN-MT).Methods: The OUD group consisted of 46 male subjects and the control group consisted of 49 male subjects. Patients with chronic opioid use and opioid positivity in their urine during the ini-tial SD-OCT application were included in the study. At the end of the fourth week of BN-MT, SD-OCT was repeated and BN positivity was detected in the urine of the patients at this time.Results: There was a significant difference between OUD and control groups in terms of nasal superior and CT values of both eyes (p<0.05) before BN use. The values of RNFL sectors and CT of both eyes before and after BN-MT differed significantly (p<0.05); CT increased and RNFL sectors decreased. After BN-MT, psychometric scales differed significantly in favor of the patients (p<0.05). The SD-OCT values of the OUD group after BN-MT were compared with the control group: the right IPL (p=0.003), the left IPL (p=0.023), the right N (p=0.001) and the left N (p<0.001) values were significantly lower in the OUD group. Conclusion: This is the first study to show the SD-OCT findings of patients with OUD before and after BN-MT. The findings of this study may indicate possible effects of chronic opioid use in patients and/or possible effects of exogenous opioid or BN present in the body during SD-OCT applications. However, based on our findings, it is not possible to distinguish between the two possible outcomes. The fact that the use of BN acting through opioid receptors has different effects from exogenous opioids may be due to different receptor profiles

A snapshot of pediatric inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19: a point prevalence study from Turkey

This multi-center point prevalence study evaluated children who were diagnosed as having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On February 2nd, 2022, inpatients and outpatients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included in the study from 12 cities and 24 centers in Turkey. Of 8605 patients on February 2nd, 2022, in participating centers, 706 (8.2%) had COVID-19. The median age of the 706 patients was 92.50 months, 53.4% were female, and 76.7% were inpatients. The three most common symptoms of the patients with COVID-19 were fever (56.6%), cough (41.3%), and fatigue (27.5%). The three most common underlying chronic diseases (UCDs) were asthma (3.4%), neurologic disorders (3.3%), and obesity (2.6%). The SARS-CoV-2-related pneumoniae rate was 10.7%. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 12.5% in all patients. Among patients aged over 12 years with access to the vaccine given by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, the vaccination rate was 38.7%. Patients with UCDs presented with dyspnea and pneumoniae more frequently than those without UCDs (p < 0.001 for both). The rates of fever, diarrhea, and pneumoniae were higher in patients without COVID-19 vaccinations (p = 0.001, p = 0.012, and p = 0.027). Conclusion: To lessen the effects of the disease, all eligible children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The illness may specifically endanger children with UCDs. What is Known: • Children with COVID-19 mainly present with fever and cough, as in adults. • COVID-19 may specifically threaten children with underlying chronic diseases. What is New: • Children with obesity have a higher vaccination rate against COVID-19 than children without obesity. • Among unvaccinated children, fever and pneumoniae might be seen at a higher ratio than among vaccinated children

Childhood interstitial lung disease in Turkey: first data from the national registry

Abstract: The childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILD) Turkey registry (chILD-TR) was established in November 2021 to increase awareness of disease, and in collaboration with the centers to improve the diagnostic and treatment standards. Here, the first results of the chILD registry system were presented. In this prospective cohort study, data were collected using a data‐entry software system. The demographic characteristics, clinical, laboratory, radiologic findings, diagnoses, and treatment characteristics of the patients were evaluated. Clinical characteristics were compared between two main chILD groups ((A) diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) disorders manifesting primarily in infancy [group1] and (B) DPLD disorders occurring at all ages [group 2]). There were 416 patients registered from 19 centers. Forty-six patients were excluded due to missing information. The median age of diagnosis of the patients was 6.05 (1.3–11.6) years. Across the study population (n = 370), 81 (21.8%) were in group 1, and 289 (78.1%) were in group 2. The median weight z-score was significantly lower in group 1 (− 2.0 [− 3.36 to − 0.81]) than in group 2 (− 0.80 [− 1.7 to 0.20]) (p < 0.001). When we compared the groups according to chest CT findings, ground-glass opacities were significantly more common in group 1, and nodular opacities, bronchiectasis, mosaic perfusion, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were significantly more common in group 2. Out of the overall study population, 67.8% were undergoing some form of treatment. The use of oral steroids was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (40.6% vs. 23.3%, respectively; p = 0.040). Conclusion: This study showed that national registry allowed to obtain information about the frequency, types, and treatment methods of chILD in Turkey and helped to see the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of these patients. What is Known: • Childhood interstitial lung diseases comprise many diverse entities which are challenging to diagnose and manage. What is New: • This study showed that national registry allowed to obtain information about the frequency, types and treatment methods of chILD in Turkey and helped to see the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of these patients. Also, our findings reveal that nutrition should be considered in all patients with chILD, especially in A-DPLD disorders manifesting primarily in infancy

The effect of COVID-19 on development of hair and nail disorders: a Turkish multicenter, controlled study

© 2022 the International Society of Dermatology.Background: A broad spectrum of skin diseases, including hair and nails, can be directly or indirectly triggered by COVID-19. It is aimed to examine the type and frequency of hair and nail disorders after COVID-19 infection. Methods: This is a multicenter study conducted on consecutive 2171 post-COVID-19 patients. Patients who developed hair and nail disorders and did not develop hair and nail disorders were recruited as subject and control groups. The type and frequency of hair and nail disorders were examined. Results: The rate of the previous admission in hospital due to COVID-19 was statistically significantly more common in patients who developed hair loss after getting infected with COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Telogen effluvium (85%) was the most common hair loss type followed by worsening of androgenetic alopecia (7%) after COVID-19 infection. The mean stress scores during and after getting infected with COVID-19 were 6.88 ± 2.77 and 3.64 ± 3.04, respectively, in the hair loss group and were 5.77 ± 3.18 and 2.81 ± 2.84, respectively, in the control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). The frequency of recurrent COVID-19 was statistically significantly higher in men with severe androgenetic alopecia (Grades 4–7 HNS) (P = 0.012; Odds ratio: 2.931 [1.222–7.027]). The most common nail disorders were leukonychia, onycholysis, Beau's lines, onychomadesis, and onychoschisis, respectively. The symptoms of COVID-19 were statistically significantly more common in patients having nail disorders after getting infected with COVID-19 when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The development of both nail and hair disorders after COVID-19 seems to be related to a history of severe COVID-19